Luis Varela resigned from his seat on the Socorro city council this week.

Varela, 40, is accused of selling marijuana and possessing cocaine. He submitted his resignation Tuesday, said Mayor Guillermo "Willie" Gandara Sr.
The letter was dated Dec. 9, but it was submitted to city officials Dec. 14, Gandara said.

"The letter says that right now he has a judicial problems and that he can't serve the people of Socorro to his best," Gandara said.
Varela was elected to a three-year term in May.

On Wednesday, Varela pleaded not guilty to the drug charges in Criminal District Court 1. His trial is scheduled to start April 11.

Undercover sheriff's officers arrested Varela Nov. 16 in the parking lot of a Peter Piper Pizza at 10870 North Loop.

Deputies said that Varela had 27.5 grams of cocaine in the console of the truck he was driving, and that he helped three other men deal nearly 44 pounds of marijuana to the officers posing as buyers.